Absolute Michigan's Michigan Blog

Absolute Michigan Updates...

2007-04-25T06:10:00.000-04:00

If you're looking for Michigan news, features and photos, you have to head over to Absolute Michigan where we're posting new stuff every day along with tons of links to websites for Michigan businesses and organizations. You're also invited to add a link to your Michigan site.

Michigan is the best state - now let's prove it

2007-02-21T09:42:00.000-05:00

Drift at Sunrise, photo by CaptPiper. That's the assignment given to Mitchell Hirsch (a fifth grader at George G. White Middle School in Hillsdale, NJ). Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to help Mitchell explain to his classmates and teachers why Michigan is the best state in the CountryGet all the details at Assignment: Why Michigan is the best state in the country on Absolute

Offsetting Carbon Dioxide Emissions

2007-02-08T11:03:00.000-05:00

Ottawa Power Station Photo by MichSt. The Environment Report writes: There's evidence that the Earth is changing because of global warming. Glaciers are receding. Polar ice caps are melting. Weather patterns are altered. That's prompted some people to look for ways to reduce their personal contribution to global warming. Rebecca Williams reports there are many new companies that claim to

Celebrating Ice and Snow!

2007-01-30T10:07:00.000-05:00

Frozen II Photo by Darrin Wassom. It may be time for Super Bowl XLI here in the USA, but in China it's Ice Festival time. Meteorologist Bill Steffen blogged a photo of this amazing festival from 2005.Closer to home, for our neighbors to the north the focus is on Bonhomme and Carnaval de Quebec or the Quebec Winter Carnival. Here's a bit of its history from the official website Since the

2007 Michigan Heart Gallery

2007-01-29T16:57:00.000-05:00

Impact of the Child Photo by Autumm. NOISE PhotoBlog's Jeremy Herliczek highlights one of our favorite programs, the Michigan Heart Gallery. This is the second year for the gallery which premiered at the State Capitol last week and will travel the state. Professional photographers donate their time to create these insightful portaits, that are also available online at Michigan Heart

John Conyers, Jr. speaks out for peace

2007-01-29T14:57:00.000-05:00

Jack Lessenberry talks with John Conyers about his tenure on the House Judiciary Committee as well as his thoughts about the war in Iraq and whether or not President Bush should be impeached. Rep. Conyers has just become the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, after having served for, as Jack puts it, "longer than most people have been

Black History in Michigan

2007-01-24T10:06:00.000-05:00

Mask: Entrance, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History--Detroit MI Photo by pinehurst19475. February is Black History Month but the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit celebrates Black History all year long. According to their website, the museum is the world's largest institution dedicated to the African American experience. The Museum provides

The "Detroit Auto Show"

2007-01-08T17:06:00.000-05:00

Diego Rivera Painting Photo by Mr. History. Jack Lessenberry writes about the upcoming North American International Auto Show:Organizers claim the show provides a glimpse into the automotive future. They say the show also adds more than half a billion dollars annually to the local economy.Jack Lessenberry talks with Sean McAlinden, chief economist for the Center for Automotive Research

Choosing Hunger in Lansing by ypsi~dixit

2006-12-27T16:47:00.000-05:00

While most of us are complaining about too much food over the holidays, Evan in Lansing blogged about living on $30 in food per month in November. I cannot even imagine what that must be like, but there are many who live just that way, month after month.ypsi~dixit writes: (snipped from the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice's newsletter, which is meticulously and expertly scribed by Chuck

Photographic explorations throughout Michigan

2006-12-20T09:19:00.000-05:00

The Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church Photo by One Foot Over The Moon. Kitchen Chick shows us another side of her by uploading her Black and White Digital Photography class photos. She writes: I've mentioned in passing that I'm taking photography classes. This past term I took two classes: History of Photography and Black & White Digital Photography. (And worked some 30 hours

Celestial

2006-12-13T09:59:00.000-05:00

star trails 2 Photo by mi_kirk. Meteorologist Bill Steffen writes about the Geminid Meteor Shower that peaks later tonight.The Geminid Meteor Shower peaks late Wednesday Night, Dec. 13-14 (early Thursday AM). It may actually clear out for awhile Weds. night (though as is often the case in December-the low clouds hang until the ridge line makes it overhead and just as they leave, the high

Great Lakes VHS

2006-12-06T11:19:00.000-05:00

Photo by One Foot Over The Moon. The GLRC's Chuck Quirmbach reports: An emerging fish disease known as viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS, has prompted a proposed ban on the use of ballast water in the Great Lakes. ...the proposed ban is leading to predictions of economic disruption:In his commentary yesterday, Jack Lessenberry notes:First it was zebra mussels and a variety of other

Out of the ordinary recycling and other environmentally-friendly Ideas

2006-11-29T10:14:00.000-05:00

"Off the Grid" (Energy sufficiency in Southern Vermont) Photo by roddh. Today, East Lansing Daily photo features a photo of a REUSEASHOE recycling bin. She writes: REUSEASHOE- Recycle old athletic shoes.- Shoes should be dry and not muddy.- NO shoes with spikes, cleats or metal (i.e., eyelets).- NO thongs, sandals, dress shoes, boots or pumps.I was also surprised to see a bin for

Cow abduction mystery solved! (just for fun)

2006-11-29T09:38:00.000-05:00

Cow at Sunset Photo by Mr. History. I know the mystery of cow abductions was plaguing you too. Now the truth about the Battlelacticans is revealed!ypsi~dixit writes: YPSIDIXIT'S hat is off to the esteemed Weekly World News, which has finally tracked down the reason for the string of cow abductions it's reported on in recent issues!Read Weekly World News Detects Extraterrestrial Website!

The Road Ahead for Ford and GM by Jack Lessenberry

2006-11-28T16:41:00.000-05:00

On the Road Again Photo by docksidepress. Today, Jack Lessenberry features a conversation with journalist Jerry Flint. Jerry Flint has covered the automotive industry for major publications for more than half a century. These days he's of the opinion that "General Motors and Ford can't compete head to head with Toyota and Honda, not any more." But he thinks they can still survive.Jack

Cherry and Apple Pesticide under fire

2006-11-28T10:50:00.000-05:00

Wild Michigan Cherries Photo by Latitude 45. A pesticide used on nuts, brussel sprouts and nursery stock as well as cherries and apples is being phased out by the EPA; but not quickly enough for some environmental groups and too quickly for growers. GLRC's Bob Allen reports: Azinphos methyl or AZM is the main insecticide used in cherry and apple orchards. The cherry industry has zero

Holiday Traditions, old and new

2006-11-27T12:14:00.000-05:00

Frankenmuth, MI Photo by Ed Roth. Holiday Traditions vary from by home, locale, ethnicity and faith. Here are some to which our Michigan bloggers subscribe:Find The River makes a list of things he's thankful for, including:1. Kristine2. Continued good health (and the insurance to help it continue)3. Steady work that involves minimal supervision and considerable freedom as to how I manage

Giving Thanks in Michigan

2006-11-22T13:58:00.000-05:00

Y. writes: YPSIDIXIT would like to see Michigan Stadium filled to memorialize a low-profile SOS Community Services worker who helped ensure that poor families in Ypsi could together share a hot Thanksgiving dinner this year.The photo is from the Absolute Michigan Pool on Flickr. I chose it because it offers thanks to an early 20th Century conservationist. oakwood writes: Thanks, Mr Leopold for

Great Lakes freighter photos and history

2006-11-21T10:21:00.000-05:00

Lake Freighter Photo by gsgeorge. Great Lakes Freighters are wonderful to watch as they appear to effortlessly navigate the Great Lakes. Enjoy this look at Great Lakes Freighters from Michigan bloggers and photographers.michpics writes: The latest entry into the Small World Files is today's photo of the 100 year old Southdown Challenger upbound on the Detroit River just above the

Improv Everywhere's Operation Best Buy by detroitarts

2006-11-21T09:35:00.000-05:00

Imagine a group of 80 "shoppers" clad in the store uniform (khaki pants and blue shirts), marching into Best Buy. That's what happened in April at a NYC store. detroitarts writes: "Improv Everywhere is a group of agents (pranksters) based in NYC who organize missions (happenings) in public space. Their intent is to bring excitement to otherwise unexciting locales and give strangers a story they

Absolute Michigan's Michigan Blog

2006-11-19T13:19:00.000-05:00

For some time now, this blog has been about the blogs and bloggers of Michigan. Today, we're making it official and renaming it "Absolute Michigan's Michigan Blog". We'll try and keep our list of Michigan blogs up to date and to draw from more of Michigan's blogs, including some of the new video logs. We won't say vlogger though. ;)

Pre-holiday potpourri

2006-11-15T11:44:00.000-05:00

My personal Thanksgiving Photo by rogiro. With the holidays approaching, here are some tips to help make yours a little brighter!Mike Wendland shows readers three ways to make a photo book. He writes: As the holidays approach, a lot of digital photographs will be taken. But what to do with them? Have you thought of making a book? Kitchen Chick has some tasting results to share for

Post-election environmental agenda

2006-11-13T16:26:00.000-05:00

Photo by MdEST. The Environment Report 's Mark Brush looks into the impact mid-term elections may have on the environment. He writes: The political landscape in the US changed overnight this week/last week (election week). The Democratic takeover will mean a big shift in policy-making efforts in Washington.He continues: Tiernan Sittenfeld is the legislative director for the League of

Remembering "Soapy"

2006-11-08T10:35:00.000-05:00

Jack Lessenberry wrote yesterday: By this time tomorrow, we should know who Michigan's next governor is. But one thing is clear. There will never be another Soapy Williams. He was a legend who was elected six consecutive times, evoked strong feelings, and seldom, if ever, took off his signature green polka-dotted bow ties. Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry spoke with Thomas Noer. He is the

Fast Food Nation coming soon (or already here)!

2006-11-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

Two hugs and a Kiss Photo by tbonedetroit. Loosely based on the book of the same name by author Eric Schlosser, the movie Fast Food Nation is an inside look at the fast food industry from the meat packing plant to the low paid employees and everything in between. ypsi~dixit writes: YPSIDIXIT is excited to learn that the movie Fast Food Nation is coming out Nov. 17. Check out the ominous

You never can tell, and you better vote by Jack Lessenberry's Essays and Interviews

2006-11-07T09:05:00.000-05:00

War Governor Photo by O Caritas. Jack Lessenberry wrote yesterday: Tomorrow's election is shaping up to be one of the most intensely watched midterm elections since 1994.He continues: Everybody is concentrating on what key races to watch when the votes start coming in tomorrow night. But I'll bet you a donut that there will be some surprises somewhere in races that aren't on anybody's

Voting is Patriotic (Michigan)

2006-11-06T11:05:00.000-05:00

Voting is Patriotic (Michigan) Photo by farlane. Following are some of the blogosphere pre-elections ponderings:Dave Dempsey quotes an article from the Houston Chronicle:The Great Lakes states aren't just key battlegrounds in Tuesday's elections. Fixing their imperiled "Rust Belt" economies and hollowed-out cities may be key to America's 21st century fate.That's the pointed message of a

Elections in Michigan

2006-11-02T22:11:00.000-05:00

MOCK ELECTION: Painting a Sign Photo by farlane. As the elections draw near, the political ads increase, as does the commentary. Jack Lessenberry writes about the confusion over ballot proposals. I thought about what a farce the whole ballot proposal game has become. Most of the state's voters won't vote on these ballot proposals. Many of those who do will misunderstand them. Those who

Carrot and Olive Salad by Kitchen Chick

2006-11-02T11:06:00.000-05:00

Kitchen Chick has a wonderful 'pan-North African' recipe for Carrot and Olive Salad. She writes: I wanted something light and fresh and healthy (i.e. more vegetables!) as a side. This carrot and olive salad turned out to not only be tasty in itself but also to be a good pairing with our sausage dish.Read Carrot and Olive Salad by Kitchen Chick for insight and the recipe!

Storm Water Gardens, great and small

2006-11-01T11:09:00.000-05:00

Water Lily Photo by oakwood. The GLRC writes: Cities around the country are trying to figure out how to encourage economic growth, and protect the environment at the same time. Stephanie Hemphill reports on one case where both could be winners:Like a lot of cities, runoff from this city's streets - polluted with salt, oil, and fertilizer - flows into a waterway. In Duluth, Minnesota, the

Happy All Hallows' Eve, Michigan!

2006-10-31T10:56:00.000-05:00

Extreme Pumpkin Photo by John Clement Howe. According to Wikipedia: Halloween (Also called Hallowe'en, All Hallows Eve, All Saints' Eve, Samhain, Spooky Day, Snap-Apple Night) is a tradition celebrated on the night of October 31, most notably by children dressing in costumes and going door-to-door collecting sweets, fruit, and other treats. It is celebrated in parts of the Western world,

Trains and tracks throughout Michigan

2006-10-26T11:24:00.000-04:00

12.JPGPhoto by DarrylW4. While unused tracks throughout the state are being repurposed as recreational trails (aka rails to trails), many are still being utilized by both passenger and commercial trains. Following is a glimpse at some of the tracks and trains of Michigan, past and present.Today on Michigan in Pictures, a photo entitled this train must dead end by freckles~ is featured.farlane

Wetlands Education by The Environment Report

2006-10-25T11:09:00.000-04:00

Swamp Photo by KariMelissa. Conservancy groups across the country are trying to educate the public about the value of wetlands, not only to wildlife, but also humans. According to the Wetlands Initiative, (w)etlands provide all of us with critical services. They remove pollutants and toxic substances, reduce flood and storm damages, provide important habitat for wildlife, recharge

Pickin' Pumpkins in Michigan

2006-10-25T11:07:00.000-04:00

Duaflex: Pumpkin Patch Photo by Matt Blackcustard. It's that time of year when the farm fields are overflowing with pumpkins AND (hopefully) people who want to take them home. According to the Detroit News: Michigan residents don't have to worry this year about finding the perfect pumpkin for that perfect Halloween jack-o'-lantern.Big, round, healthy pumpkins can be found in abundance

Sustainable forsestry by The Environment Report

2006-10-24T16:32:00.000-04:00

Logging By Horse Photo by farlane. In this week's edition of The Environment Report, the GLRC takes a look at why some in forestry are choosing to go back to the future. Ann Murray reports: Some forest owners are going back to past practices to do less damage to their land. Commercial horse logging is finding a viable niche in woodlands around the country. She visits a logging operation

Sand Sculpture by Bill's Blog

2006-10-24T09:45:00.000-04:00

Harrisand 2006 - The Vancouver Sun World Championships of Sand Sculpture, Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia Originally uploaded by Rick Leche. The Harrisand World Championship Sand Sculpture was held recently. Bill Steffen writes about some neat sand sculptures from the recent World Championship in Harrison Hot Springs, Canada.Even the Queen was there (view the original to see the

World Series in the 'Big D'

2006-10-23T10:44:00.000-04:00

D Originally uploaded by anikarenina. Jack Lessenberry writes about his quest to buy tickets for the World Series.I thought I would weaken my long-term financial outlook and take my godchildren to the World Series.I was willing to pay the $250 bucks each. That's expensive, but who knows when Detroit will get into the World Series again? For Michigan, World Series games appear in an

Night lights

2006-10-18T10:05:00.000-04:00

Good Morning Detroit Originally uploaded by DetroitBikeBlog MkII. Michigan in Pictures features a photo by Anastacia Campbell, one of the Detroit Nighthawks Group photographers documenting Detroit. farlane writes: About Detroit NighthawksA city isn't just one place. It changes by the hour. The boarded up derelict at midday becomes the heaving nightclub by midnight. Places you simply

Original Art?

2006-10-17T09:22:00.000-04:00

Art can be created from many things, apparently including shopping carts. In his blog, Bill Steffen features a Canadian artist who retrieves shopping carts from the waterways and uses them to create sculptures. Now that's recycling at its best!Art can also be found all around us in the form of graffiti. Check out dETROITfUNK's posts and you'll often times see talented graffiti artists'

Days gone by

2006-10-16T14:17:00.000-04:00

Horse troughs were commonplace a little over a century ago, before automobiles became more prevalent. Following are some images of horse troughs, beginning with one on the campus of MSU (right) taken by East Lansing Daily Photo, as well as some additional knowledge about these days gone by. Ruth writes about her photo of this stone trough: On the MSU campus, this horse trough sits on the green

Icy

2006-10-12T16:51:00.000-04:00

untitled, part autumn snow Originally uploaded by jamelah. The icy front invaded our area last night, with snow falling right along with the temperatures in many areas of the state. Fall is my favorite time of year, but early winter weather finds its way into late Fall many years. Still, there are reasons to be grateful for these frigid temperatures. Like this one in ypsi~dixit's post:

Tigers in Five

2006-10-11T14:11:00.001-04:00

Well, the Tigers wasted little time in jumping out to a 1-0 ALCS lead. writes farlane on Absolute Michigan's Dig Michigan. Let's hope for a replay of the ALDS.Greg Eno of Where have you gone, Johnny Grubb? (and Out of Bounds) writes: Overall: The A's dispatched the hot Twins in three straight, which is both an example of how the regular season doesn't matter so much, and how good the A's are.

Fall foliage in pictures, again

2006-10-11T08:24:00.000-04:00

From the UP to the Indiana and Ohio borders, mother nature is wowing Michiganders with her display of Fall color. So, once again, here is some Autumnal splendor for you to enjoy from around the state.Lake of the Clouds in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park can be viewed from a nearby peak. Michigan in Pictures features a photo from this vantage point and writes: lake of the clouds,

Energy challenges and alternatives

2006-10-10T08:21:00.000-04:00

With autumn in the air, winter close behind, and global warming concerns on many Michigander's minds, there is much to consider in terms of Michigan's energy resources. Let's take a look at the outlook for energy consumption and costs this winter as well as the alternative and renewable energy sources.The Environment Report has a feature this week entitled The Direction of U.S. Energy Policy.

Tell me it aint so, Joe

2006-10-09T10:53:00.000-04:00

Yankees, go home. Tigers move on. It's hard not to be a sports fan right now (and believe you me, I've tried).House of Sternberg writes: Wait. What's that sound? Why, it's the absence of raucous applause in the Bronx. Tell me it aint so, Joe.Absolute Michigan's Dig Michigan features a post recapping the American League Division series and includes a bunch of Tiger links.Finally, Detroit News

The Truth About Cat & Dogs

2006-10-09T08:36:00.000-04:00

(WARNING: this is a 'fluffy' post)Now, I don't particularly like cats, but one must in order to answer this ad found by Ann Arbor is Overrated (oh, and you must also be outraged by Israeli occupation of Palestine).I AM a dog lover and have been accused of treating my dog better than most people, but even I don't go this far. ypsi~dixit has links to three dog accoutrements that are, well,

Veggie tales

2006-10-05T13:27:00.000-04:00

A tale of two veggies....It was the best of veggies, it was the worst of veggies.It was the best of veggies is by ypsi~dixit. She is growing an indoor vegetable garden, that she says is her assigned project this month for the sustainability group. I have two big tomato plants in pots, one with a wee tomato, a pot full of sprouting beans five inches tall, a windowbox full of radish sprouts, and

Tiger Economics

2006-10-05T10:00:00.001-04:00

Jack Lessenberry talks about the economic impact the Tigers do (and don't) have on Detroit. He writes: Well, the Tigers built a good team at last, and they came. They sold more than half a million more tickets than last year. Some of those fans came from Grand Rapids and Flint and Paw Paw and even Escanaba. And some stayed around and bought stuff, had dinner in Greektown or at one of the

A study of Michigan buildings

2006-10-04T12:33:00.000-04:00

Today we visit Marjorie O'Brien's Blog, Michigan Architecture. Marjorie (aka (I Am Jacques Strappe) was a featured photographer last April on Michigan in Pictures and is currently attending NMU in Marquette. She writes about the regional materials used in downtown Marquette buildings. The bulk of the structures in downtown Marquette were built between the late 1870s and the early 1900s.

Oh my gourd!

2006-10-04T10:49:00.000-04:00

'Tis the season for gourds, indian corn, pumpkins, corn mazes and jack-o'-lanterns. And dETROITfUNK has a bunch of photos of gourds as do many other Michigan Photographers featured on Flickr.So why DO we carve our pumpkins? Not knowing much about the jack-o'-lantern's history, I went searching at Wikipedia. They have an entry describing its origins, both in folklore and how that translated

all things autumnal

2006-10-03T10:35:00.000-04:00

Fall is in the air, leaves are turning brilliant colors, then swirling to the ground, gardens are giving up their last produce for the year and the skies are more turbulent. Let's take another look at Autumn in Michigan.First, look at this stunning photo by jamelah on the Michigan in Pictures photo blog. michpics writes: This is one of the photos in a great set by Jamelah called ah, autumn. I

Albertus & Alberta beautify Detroit

2006-10-03T08:26:00.000-04:00

There are a fair number of bloggers out there documenting the positive side of Detroit. We'll be featuring two today, dETROITfUNK on St. Albertus and DetroitBlog on Alberta Winbush's Better homes and gardens.dETROITfUNK posted a beautiful series of photographs of the sanctuary at St. Albertus. He writes: I went to morning mass at St. Albertus today - what a fantastic sanctuary! St. Albertus

Ergonomics, Shmergonomics? by PC Mike's E-Journal

2006-10-02T14:26:00.000-04:00

PC Mike talks about a subject near to me, and that is sitting in front of a computer for many hours each day and the toll it may take on your body if your workspace isn't ergonomically correct. He writes: My neck is killing me. My buddy Ryan's right shoulder is hurting him. Our co-worker Alice says she's been getting neck pains, too.What do we have in common? Computers. We all spend way, way,

Celebrating the Tigers

2006-10-02T14:23:00.000-04:00

Greg Eno, Out of Bounds Sports writes: Friday night, the Tigers were one out away from a win that would have crept them ever-so-close to the frustratingly elusive AL Central title. A foul ball was lofted toward the stands on the third base side. A seemingly impossible play would have to be made in order to catch the floater, but Inge, the most athletic of all the Tigers, was going to try to make

Locally-grown spinach by The Environment Report

2006-10-02T14:19:00.000-04:00

GLRC's Brian Bull reports on the local spinach farmers that are benefiting from the recent E. coli outbreak. He writes: Bill Warner owns an organic spinach farm. He sells his crop at local farmers' markets and restaurants in Wisconsin and to some restaurants in Chicago. Warner says he thinks the E. coli incident will steer consumers toward smaller, organic farms like his."We just will tell

Autumn in pictures

2006-09-28T08:33:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd feature some photos of Fall today as the temperatures drop, the trees start to turn those magnificent colors, and the waves come crashing in to the shores of our Great Lakes. copper country explorer shows us the turning leaves in the U.P.(Today) we take a look at the Cliffs from an early morning vantage point. This photo was taken just yesterday, so it is about as up to date as you

Celebrating the Arts & Humanities in October

2006-09-27T12:16:00.000-04:00

October is National Arts & Humanities Month and hundreds of organizations and communities across the nation will be celebrating. According to Wikipedia:National Arts and Humanities Month's four primary goals are to: * Create a national, state and local focus on the arts and humanities through the media. * Encourage the active participation of individuals, as well as arts, humanities and

Angling imposes drug testing by Find The River

2006-09-27T10:17:00.000-04:00

FTR reports on the latest sport to impose drug testing - fishing. Yes, you read that right, championship angling judges are testing competitor's urine for stimulants. FTR writes: Competition is getting out of control in organized fishing tournaments. The U.K.'s Daily Mirror reports thatTOP championship anglers were left shocked... after being asked to submit to drug tests.Competitors at last

Landmarks in the Great Lake State by Michigan in Pictures

2006-09-26T09:59:00.000-04:00

michpics writes: Of his set of 50-odd photos titled Michigan Landmarks, Larry the Biker writes: Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice - "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you."Take a look at Michigan State Capitol & other Michigan landmarks by Michigan in PicturesView other Michigan in Pictures posts with tag 'landmark'

Typewriter invented in Michigan by ypsi~dixit

2006-09-26T09:54:00.000-04:00

Y. writes about the invention of the typewriter by a "young American in the vicinity of Detroit". She writes: YPSIDIXIT was cooling down from the excitement of her nasal cleaning pot experience by quietly reading Ralph Stein's The Great Inventions when she happened upon this alarming passage:"The first American typewriter was invented by a thirty-seven-year-old Massachusetts Yankee named William

American comfort food and heirloom recipes by Kitchen Chick

2006-09-26T08:35:00.000-04:00

Here's a nice fall treat - warm apple pie cake topped with vanilla ice cream (see photo). Yummy!Kitchen Chick writes: Years ago Joe picked up The New York Times Heritage Cookbook from a remainder book sale. It sat on the shelves untouched for a very long time, until one night, searching for a simple dessert, I cracked it open and discovered a whole world of American comfort food and heirloom

Farmland vs suburban sprawl by The Environment Report

2006-09-25T08:32:00.000-04:00

Development of agricultural areas in Michigan remains controversial, for both farmers and area residents. GLRC's Lester Graham reports: (s)ome counties that want to preserve the rural character of their area are putting together a program that helps farmers by paying them some of that difference between farmland value and development value. It's called the purchase of development rights.He

Cougar Controversy by The Environment Report

2006-09-21T10:37:00.000-04:00

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service describes the elusive, solitary, feline known as the Eastern Cougar (Felis concolor couguar) as follows: Ghost cat. Catamount. Puma. Painter. Panther. Mountain lion. Cougar. The many names given the nation's largest cat convey the mystery surrounding this solitary hunter. But the variety of names also demonstrates the cougar's original distribution across the

I really don't know clouds...

2006-09-21T10:36:00.000-04:00

WOOD-TV Meterologist Bill Steffen posted photos taken by his daughter's friend, a pilot, while flying around a thunderstorm, including one of the trademark "anvil" reaching into the blue skies above.Take a look at these cool photos on Bill's BlogAlso take a peek at these results of keyword search 'cloud' on the Jolli Lodge Photo Blog

Fishing as a contact sport? by Find The River

2006-09-21T08:46:00.000-04:00

FTR relays a story of Salmon fishing from the Indian Bridge on the Pere Marquette River Tuesday. Apparently a father and son believed the bridge was their fishing spot and that it could not be shared with others. Witness the account in this post as written in the Ludington News. They write, in part: The sheriff's office said it would add extra patrols in the area in an attempt to prevent

Talented Teens

2006-09-20T10:05:00.000-04:00

Teen artists, photographers and atheletes are featured in these three Michigan blogs.deatroit arts writes: cranbrook grads in pontiac. sounds good. they show up. bring their buddies. make pontiac a little classier.Matt Callow of The Adventures of a Brit Abroad, will exhibit his student's pinhole workshop results at the Ann Arbor District Library in October. He writes: I ran a pinhole workshop

Lawn company mistakenly sprays 'pesticide free' yard by Ann Arbor is Overrated

2006-09-20T08:30:00.000-04:00

AAIO writes: We were a little put off this one time when Zingerman's mixed up our order and gave us a sandwich with mayonnaise, but it never occurred to us to call Fox News Detroit and The Washington Post. If only we'd taken our cues from Ann Arbor activist Tess Karwoski, whose lawn was mistakenly sprayed with pesticides, the national news media would have been alerted to this travesty. (And if

Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day by The Detroit News PhotoBlog

2006-09-19T16:22:00.000-04:00

John Greilick writes about these outtakes: Possibly in honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, which is Tuesday, September 19th, these Notre Dame Marching Band members dressed up as scoundrels of the high seas to cheer the Irish during their game against Michigan last Saturday. In 2002, Dave Barry wrote an article that was published in the Miami Herald in which he stated: As the name

He's got Answers.com by PC Mike's E-Journal

2006-09-19T09:29:00.000-04:00

Mike Wendland writes: My NBC-TV report this week for the affiliate stations around the country is on Answers.com an online Encylodictionalmanacapia. That turns out to be an accurate term for what the site has become. It's a huge information clearing house, all free, and it is doing a pretty darn good job of becoming the Google of information-on-demand.Read Answers on demand by PC Mike's

Lake Michigan Crossing by Michigan in Pictures

2006-09-19T08:29:00.000-04:00

michpics writes: The 420' Badger is the largest car ferry ever to sail Lake Michigan. When I was young, there were people who'd just ride back and forth and play cribbage. At today's rates, I'm guessing the recreational rider may be a thing of the past.Early Morning in Ludington by Michigan in PicturesAlso look at other Michigan in Pictures photos with tag 'lakemichigan'View Flickr search results

Genealogy and Michigan History

2006-09-14T10:13:00.000-04:00

Absolute Michigan features several bloggers who write about their genealogical research efforts and findings. Today, I thought it would be interesting to visit three of them to examine their various methods and gather tips in the proces.Your Brother Kings writes: I can't believe I've been running this blog for as long as I have without plugging an excellent resource that I found for researchers

Just some photos to enjoy

2006-09-13T15:09:00.000-04:00

Take a look at this amazing photo of the Eye of the Talon Center by Detroit News Photographer John T. Greilick. Then travel to the tranquility of the North Manitou Dock courtesy of Jolli Lodge Photo Blog. Next, go in the forest with there is no happy here where you might happen upon this scene entitled Busy as a Bee by Giancarlo Rinna. Look out... Big Brother is watching you so Chase your dreams,

Pho (noodle soup) from Paradise by Kitchen Chick

2006-09-13T09:54:00.000-04:00

Kitchen Chick writes: Pho is a traditional Vietnamese soup with rice noodles, bean sprouts, and meat (often beef) served in a beef broth. It comes with cilantro, onions, hot peppers, a lime (or lemon), and sriracha (hot sauce) and hoisin sauce, and maybe a few other things depending on the particular pho. Though often pronounced like "foe" by English speakers, it actually sounds more "fuh". Which

Iraqi Olivebranch Network Blog by PC Mike's E-Journal

2006-09-13T09:24:00.000-04:00

Mike Wendland writes: My NBC-TV "High Tech Talk" segment this week is on a fascinating collection of bloggers from Iraq called the Olivebranch Network. Posted in the comments is a link to the story of how the Olivebranch Network was formed, which is very interesting as well. Antony Loewenstein wrote on February 15th: In early January, I announced a competition to find a young journalist keen to

Aurora Borealis by Bill Steffen, WOOD-TV

2006-09-12T09:29:00.001-04:00

Bill Steffen directs his readers to the Michigan Tech Aurora page to view Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) and learn more about when and why they occur.Read Northern Lights on Bill's BlogCheck out these images of Aurora Borealis from space taken by the Space Shuttle and DMSP SatelliteTake a look at Sweetwater Visions' Aurora photosAnd finally, these images by Lake Superior Photo

Ponds to stem farm runoff by GLRC Environment Report

2006-09-12T09:29:00.000-04:00

The GLRC's Lester Graham reports: Since the dust bowl days of the 1930s Depression, the government has been working with farmers to reduce erosion. Today, soil conservation is better. But fields still lose a lot of topsoil because not all farmers use the best conservation methods. Dirt is washed away by rain. That silt clogs up streams, rivers and lakes. But one region is trying to intercept the

Great Gliding Adventure, complete with Blueberry Muffins by Kitchen Chick

2006-09-11T09:57:00.000-04:00

Kitchen Chick writes: Last weekend I went up in a glider. It was so exciting that I just had to share, even though it has nothing to do with food. Well, that's not completely true. My friends shared their amazing sandwiches (I must get the recipe) and I shared some blueberry muffins (recipe at end of post). See? I did make it food related. She continues:At last at some 2,600 plus feet the pilot

Electric Shock! by Detroit Wonk

2006-09-11T09:49:00.000-04:00

Detroit Wonk writes:Yesterday the Detroit Shock drew a sellout crowd of over 19,000 at Joe Louis Arena (the Palace was booked for a Mariah Carey concert) as they took on the Sacramento Monarchs in the final and deciding game of the WNBA Finals.According to the Shock website: Shock guard Deanna Nolan scored a game-high 24 points, plus posted four rebounds, four assists and two blocks in Game 5 on

Do WHAT with my coffee? by Ann Arbor is Overrated

2006-09-06T11:20:00.000-04:00

AAIO writes: "Some Ann Arborites have learned to combine their love of java with the pursuit of wellness," the latest Observer reports. Coffee consumption does have some established health benefits. But the naturopaths profiled in the story are thinking along slightly different lines - specifically, coffee enemas, which they suggest to one out of four of their patients.Read Drinking Coffee?

An Abandoned Cabin (AND Flickr adds maps) by Michigan in Pictures

2006-09-06T11:19:00.000-04:00

michpics writes: Flickr (where most of the photos seen here on Michigan in Pictures reside) has recently added a nifty feature that allows you to view a map of all photos in any pool.Read Maps to Abandoned Cabins and Other Photographic Treasures

At-Will Employment by Jack Lessenberry's Essays and Interviews

2006-09-05T10:21:00.000-04:00

Jack Lessenberry talks with Roland Zullo, assistant research scientist at the institute of labor and industrial relations at the University of Michigan about at-will employment. He writes: ... last year, a medical benefits firm in Okemos fired workers for smoking on their own time. They could do this because of a legal concept called “at-will employment.” It's an interesting and sometimes

Enjoy the Festival of the Senses by Leelanau News Blog

2006-09-05T10:20:00.000-04:00

Leelanau News Blog writes: The annual Festival of the Senses will be held September 14-24, 2006 across the Leelanau and Grand Traverse region. It features artistic, athletic, culinary and cultural events including symphony concerts, art exhibitions and gourmet meals. The Festival of Senses web site says the festival gives visitors a range of choices from symphony concerts, art exhibitions and

On hiatus till after Labor Day

2006-08-24T09:53:00.000-04:00

Absolute Michigan is going to Pictured Rocks next week (well, some of us). If you haven't already, check out this majestic National Lakeshore Park at Destination: MichiganSee you in September (the 5th to be exact).

Art and the internet by Detroit Arts

2006-08-24T09:50:00.000-04:00

Detroit Arts tells us that artists have joined the ranks of those who have reaped the benefits of a presence on the world wide web. Ann writes: This story was passed on to me, Artists take paintings to masses - USA Today. It is a great story about how much the internet has affected the art world.She concludes with these figures from the USA Today article:* The blogosphere has doubled every six

A Depression-era dish? by Kitchen Chick

2006-08-22T10:03:00.000-04:00

And in the food section today, we have the Kitchen Chick, who writes: When I was a child, my mother would dredge slices of cornmeal mush in flour and pan-fry them until they were crispy, and we'd eat it slathered with butter and maple syrup. I thought this was a perfectly ordinary dish well into adulthood until my friends expressed surprise. "A Depression-era dish", some called it.Well, I don't

History of three Claras

2006-08-22T09:59:00.000-04:00

Your Brother Kings continues his look at the life of Clara Ward:Clara was the daughter of Eber Brock Ward, about whom I have written a great deal on this blog (please use the search box to your right if you are interested). As I mentioned a few days ago, Eber Brock's daughter Clara, who was just a toddler when he died, married a European Prince. That began an amazing series of adventures that

Calculating the value of nature by GLRC Environment Report

2006-08-22T09:58:00.000-04:00

The GLRC's Rebecca Williams reports the economic benefits of the natural system aren't always considered when developers start building: We don't get a bill from wetlands for purifying our water, but scientists say we might pay more in our utility bills if wetlands weren't there to clean up the water.Bob Costanza directs the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics. He and his colleagues are

The Zebra Mussel up close by Jolli Lodge Photo Blog

2006-08-21T09:53:00.000-04:00

Jolli Lodge writes: The infamous zebra mussels with a clam thrown in...We've done a few dives lately and I have to say the zebras have cleared up the water with their filtering ability. It's too bad they throw off the balance of nature.Read more about and see this photo of Zebra Shells... by Jolli LodgeAlso read Ten Threats to the Great Lakes by GLRC Environment ReportView the results of keyword

eTextbooks by PC Mike's E-Journal

2006-08-21T09:52:00.000-04:00

Having college age children, I was very interested to learn about alternatives for those high-priced textbooks. Mike Wendland writes: The average college freshman spends $900 on textbooks each semester. Some books retail at nearly $200. For years, there's been a brisk market in used books. But now the Internet has made textbook buying much more affordable, saving hundreds of dollars per

Who Killed the Electric Car? by ypsi~dixit

2006-08-21T09:49:00.000-04:00

Y. writes about seeing Sony Classics' "Who Killed the Electric Car?". She comments: This straightforward, homespun documentary exposes the destruction of a slick, cool 1996 to early-2000s electric car, the EV1, that consumers loved and that you've never heard about, for good reasons.Read about "Who Killed the Electric Car" by ypsi~dixitRead the how to help page on the Who Killed the Electric Car

The Amazing Corey Whitfield by Detroit News Photoblog

2006-08-17T09:32:00.000-04:00

Detroit News Photographer John T. Greilick writes about nationally ranked power tumbler, Corey Whitfield. He was a street tumbler, but as a high school student started eating lots of fast food and putting on the pounds. At 5 feet, 9 inches, he topped out at 240 pounds two and one-half years ago. Then he found the All World Gym, trained hard and today is a world-class tumbler weighing in at a

Meet Igor, get signed copy of "Farewell from Moscow" by Leelanau Sports Guy's World

2006-08-16T16:40:00.000-04:00

LSG writes: Former Red Wing Larionov will be signing copies of his DVD "Farewell from Moscow - The Igor Larionov Farewell Game" from 11:30am to 1 pm. A portion of the proceeds from DVD sales will benefit the Igor Larionov Youth Hockey Charitable Foundation.According to the official Igor Larionov website: "Farewell From Moscow: The Igor Larionov Farewell Game" DVD will leave sports fans feeling

South Manitou Island aerial photo by Michigan in Pictures

2006-08-16T16:32:00.000-04:00

Today Michigan in Pictures features this amazing photo entitled South Manitou Island, taken by Flickr photographer rdmegr. farlane writes: When I logged on briefly last night to see what photos had been added during the day. Just about the first thing I saw was this amazing photo of South Manitou Island from the air. In addition to the freighter, the photo clearly shows the beautiful natural

Get your bike-mowers (mowpeds) here! by ypsi~dixit

2006-08-16T11:07:00.000-04:00

Or at least instructions on how to build same. Yes, you read that right. It's a bike AND a lawn mower (kind of like the old Saturday Night Live skit that proclaimed, "It's a floor wax AND a dessert topping.") Y. writes: WHEN BUILDING YOUR BIKE-MOWER, keep some things in mind. The mower must be propelled forwards, but the direction of application of force on a standard pedal bike is downwards.

Eat dessert first (then enjoy creole)

2006-08-16T10:49:00.000-04:00

Vacuum's Edward Vielmetti tells us: Reliable berry-picking informant Kate reports that Makielski Berry Farm is now open for the 2006 season with blackberries and raspberries available. The thorns on the blackberries were ferocious--my legs look like I've been playing with a whole litter of needle clawed kittens (the raspberries were much more kid-friendly picking). But I can handle a little

How many planets are there? by Bill's Blog

2006-08-15T09:26:00.000-04:00

Meteorologist Bill Steffen writes: How many planets are there? Good question. Up until 1930 it was eight...then Clyde Tombough discovered Pluto (a name suggested by a little girl in England). When it was first observed, it was thought that Pluto was five times bigger than the Earth. Now we think Pluto might even be smaller than our moon. With the discovery of a 10th planet, Xena (actually bigger

Groundhog Day by Find The River

2006-08-14T10:10:00.000-04:00

FTR writes: Underneath my birdfeeder, some sunflowers had sprouted from the black oil suflower seeds we feed birds over the winter. I was letting them (and the grass around them) grow in hopes of them flowering. Though they never got very high, it looked like a few were developing flower buds. Then Saturday afternoon, I looked out the kitchen window and saw a young woodchuck standing among them,

Somewhere in time (photos) from Michigan in Pictures

2006-08-14T09:42:00.000-04:00

michpics writes: The photo is one of a large set that reminded me of a recent conversation with a friend who told me we can't have any fun anymore - the world moves too fast and our work and free time are all tied together with email and cell phones and beeping reminders (or something like that).Look at and read Central Lake, Michigan - all week long in 1973 by Michigan in PicturesAnd look at

Cutting Hybrid Tax Credit for Toyota and Lexus by GLRC Environment Report

2006-08-10T10:06:00.000-04:00

The GLRC's Dustin Dwyer reports:If you buy a Toyota Prius in the next two months, you can get the highest hybrid tax credit on the market, but if you buy after October 1st, you'll only get half the current credit, and the credit for all hybrids made by Toyota and Lexus will be phased out completely within a year.That's because Toyota reached a total hybrid sales mark of 60 thousand vehicles in

Lyrebird's elaborate song by ypsi~dixit

2006-08-10T10:03:00.000-04:00

Y. writes: YPSIDIXIT was enchanted to stumble across this Quicktime video of an Australian lyrebird. In its quest to make its song as unique and attractive to mates as possible, the lyrebird, an accomplished mimic, incorporates sounds around it into its song.She continues: In the video the lyrebird, puffed out into a glory of feathers, sings its little heart out to try and woo a mate--by making